The 20-year-old has agreed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Premier League giants and his registration will be transferred in the coming days, even though he will be loaned back to the Championship club for the rest of the season.

Zaha is also due to undertake a medical in the next 48 hours as United wrap up the deal.

Sources have told Goal.com that Palace chairman Steve Parish, who is believed to be in Australia, had hoped to hang on to Zaha’s registration until the summer, with the two clubs agreeing a ‘guaranteed date of purchase’.

However, Football League rules forbid such an agreement and United have been keen to complete the deal this week.

As revealed by Goal.com on Monday, Palace have negotiated a fee of £15m, rising to £17m with performance-related add-ons.

This was enough to blow Arsenal out of the water after the two Premier League big hitters became involved in a two-horse race to sign the coveted forward.